American And US Airways Under SOC

Beginning today, American Airlines and US Airways are now under a Single Operating Certificate (SOC). With this SOC, the US Airways IATA Code (US), ICAO Code (AWE), and callsign ("Cactus") will be retired, and the American code will take over.

Here are the changes to the former US Airways Hawai‘i flights to American flight codes:
HNL-PHX: AWE675 is AAL695; AWE693 is AAL693
PHX-HNL: AWE692 is AAL692; AWE694 is AAL694
OGG-PHX: AWE638 is AAL638; AWE645 is AAL645
PHX-OGG: AWE432 is AAL432; AWE633 is AAL633
LIH-PHX: AWE697 is AAL697
PHX-LIH: AWE684 is AAL684
KOA-PHX: AWE661 is AAL661
PHX-KOA: AWE663 is AAL663

Ticket counters and reservations systems will remain separate until later this year, when they will be integrated.

Further information in this American Airlines press release and World Airline News article.

Virgin America Announces Hawai‘i Flights

Virgin America [VX/VRD] announced today that they will begin daily flights between SFO and HNL on 02 November 2015, and daily flights between SFO and OGG on 03 December 2015. The airline will use new Sharklet-equipped A320s for the Hawai‘i routes, and is in the process of obtaining their ETOPS certification. With this new service, Virgin America will compete against Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. 

Further information in this Virgin America press release.

Virgin America will become the first US carrier to attempt A320 ETOPS service between the west coast and Hawai‘i. CrankyFlyer offers their analysis of why Virgin America can succeed with A320 ETOPS operations.

Polet Flight's AOC Canceled

ATWOnline.com reports that the Russian government has canceled the Air Operator's Certificate for Polet Flight [YQ/POT] due to financial troubles. The airline used to fly military charter flights in behalf of the US Department of Defense. Its fleet has been put into storage for the time being.

Polet Flight did have some of these military cargo flights stop through HNL, NGF, and JRF. Pictured above is RA-82077 "Fedor Muravchenko" (c/n 9773054459151, l/n 07-09) departing from Runway 8R in 2013.

N222CQ

N222CQ (c/n 30231, l/n 515), a 737-86N, owned by International Aviation and Capital Management, LLC, is being ferried from SHA [Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai, China] to VCV (via GUM and HNL).

30231 was originally ordered by GECAS, and leased to Pegasus Airlines [PC/PGC] (Turkey) in in April 2000, as TC-APL. In December 2003, it then leased to China Xinhua Airlines (Hainan Air Group - HNA Group) [XW/CXH] as B-5081. While with CXH, it wore both the original HNA Group and 2007 liveries.

French Air Force's F-RAJB

An A340-212 of the Armée De L'Air arrived this afternoon from YVR for a fuel stop. F-RAJB (c/n 081)[above] and sister-ship F-RAJA often utilizes Gate 34 instead of parking at Hickam when in Honolulu.

Makani Kai's N129CG

Makani Kai Air has acquired N129CG (msn 208B1290) from AmeriWing II, LLC (Miami, FL), which was flying on behalf of Bimini Bay, since 2007.

Volga-Dnepr's RA-76511

A lesser seen piece of Russian metal was in town today. A Volga-Dnepr Il-76TD-90VD arrived the previous night from Nandi International, Fiji (NAN/NFFN) and departed to Dallas Forth (KDFW) this afternoon as VDA6133. A search of RA-76511's (c/n 2123422752, l/n 94-08) recent flight history shows that it has been flying between Shanghai (PVG/ZSPD), Guam (GUM/PGUM), and Carins (CNS/YBCS) for the past week before heading to Texas.

LX-MCE

Global Jet Luxembourg's [SVW] A319-115 ACJ, LX-MCE (msn 2592) has made a stop at HNL arriving from NRT. This ACJ is part of Global Jet Luxembourg's fleet of VIP-configured airliners.

2592 was originally delivered to Comlux Aviation [CLA] (Switzerland) as an ACJ in June 2006 as HB-IPO. In January 2007, Comlux leased it to the Government of Кazakhstan as UN-A1901 as a presidential transport, and was operated by the Berkut State Air Company [BEC] (Kazakhstan). It was returned to Comlux 18 months later (June 2008), then sold to Air Luther AG, and leased back. Three months later, it was transferred to Comlux Malta as 9H-AFK. In July 2012, Comlux Malta purchased the ACJ from Air Luther AG, and re-registered it as 9H-MCE. In December 2014, it was sold to Global Jet Luxembourg.

This is the third time this ACJ has stopped in Hawai‘i since this site's inception. Its previous two stops were in August 2008, as HB-IPO, it stopped at OGG; and, in July 2010, as 9H-AFK, it stopped at HNL.


04.04.15 Update
LX-MCE departed HNL for ITO, then returned to HNL a couple hours later.


04.10.15 Update
This ACJ remains parked at the same location.


04.11.15 Update
LX-MCE departed for HND this afternoon.

Lufthansa Cargo's D-ALCE

Our April edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" takes us back to July 2004, with Lufthansa Cargo's [LH/GEC] MD-11F, D-ALCE "Marhaba Turkey" (c/n 48785, l/n 629), departing from Runway 8R for AKL. It was a code-share with Air New Zealand to fly cargo from Europe to New Zealand, with US stops at ORD and HNL.

D-ALCE was delivered to Lufthansa Cargo in October 1998, and remains with the German cargo carrier today in the standard livery. The above WOW special livery was worn from 2003 to 2008, and was the only GEC MD-11F to wear it. Other MD-11Fs had a small WOW decal applied near the aft passenger doors.

Thai Lion's HS-LTR

Thai Lion Air is taking delivery of HS-LTR (c/n 39837, l/n 5347) today. The 737-9GPER is making a daytime delivery flight from BFI as TLM1, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL before continuing onto DVO and DMK.

N587CA Sold And Ferried

TransAir has sold their CV640F, N587CA (msn 463) to Frontera Flight Holdings (Dover, DE). The transfer was effective on March 23rd, and the propliner was ferried to VGT [North Las Vegas Airport, Las Vegas, NV] earlier today.


04.01.15 Update
Skyliner-Aviation.de reports that N587CA is bound for Aeronaves TSM [VTM] (México), it's Mexican registry is pending. It has not been stated whether this is a lease, or sale to Aeronaves TSM.

Hainan's B-1796

Hainan Airlines is taking delivery of B-1796 (c/n 41569, l/n 5331) today. The 737-84P is making its delivery flight from BFI as CHH1796, and will overnight at HNL.

China Southern's B-1748

China Southern Airlines is taking delivery of B-1748 (c/n 41328, l/n 5334) today. The 737-81B, leased from Air Lease, is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSN996, and will overnight at HNL.

Air China's B-1762

Air China is taking delivery of their second 737-89L in as many days with B-1762 (c/n 41103, l/n 5333). It's making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA78, and will overnight at HNL.

Garuda's PK-GNR

Garuda Indonesia is taking delivery of PK-GNR (c/n 39955, l/n 5335) today. The 737-8U3, leased from SMBC Aviation Capital, is making its delivery flight from BFI as GIA8011, and will make a brief fuel stop at HNL, before continuing onto TKK.

HNL's Taxiway Z Resurfacing

HNL's Taxiway Z will be undergoing resurfacing over the next five weeks. As a result, portions will be closed where the work is being done.

Further information in this Hawai‘i Department of Transportation press release.

Air China's B-1766

Air China is taking delivery of B-1766 (c/n 41108, l/n 5327) today. The 737-89L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CCA78, and will overnight at HNL.

Germanwings' D-AIPX Accident

The HNL RareBirds team expresses our condolences, thoughts and prayers to the families of the 150 passenger and crew that were aboard Germanwings [4U/GWI] flight 9525. Their A320-211, D-AIPX (msn 147) went down in the French Alps today.

Further details in coverage by the Aviation Herald.

Jin Air To Begin ICN-HNL Service

CH-Aviation reports that Jin Air [LJ/JNA] (Korea), the low-cost carrier subsidiary of Korean Air, will begin international service in December, and one of the flights will be ICN-HNL. Jin Air is leasing a 777-200ER from Korean Air. It's not known the frequency of the service, but this will add about 300 passengers per flight to the growing Korean tourist market in Hawai‘i.

Shenzhen's B-1757

Shenzhen Airlines is taking delivery of B-1757 (c/n 40824, l/n 5326) today. The 737-87L is making its delivery flight from BFI as CSZ757, and will overnight at HNL.